Catholic magazine loses top editors
El Universal/Caracas
HAVANA — The Cuban Catholic magazine “Espacio Laical” [Lay Space], which in the past decade has been the center of debates among Cuban intellectuals of differing leanings, suddenly changed its top editorial staff, among conflicting versions of resignations and firings.
“We wish to inform you that, after a decade of intense labor — in which we attempted to help to build roads of prosperity and stability for our homeland — we have been released from our obligations as editor and deputy editor of the magazine,” said Roberto Veiga and Lenier González, the men in charge of the publication of the Havana Archdiocese, in an e-mail.
The expression “released from obligations” is often used in official communiqués when a functionary is dismissed, but the magazine’s director, Gustavo Andújar, said that Veiga and González “resigned” voluntarily.
“Nobody forced them to resign. Nobody demanded, asked or even suggested to them that they resign. They simply made effective a resignation they had announced more than once, even with a well defined timetable. Sometime ago, they said categorically that they were resigning and they were dissuaded from doing so. This time, their resignation was accepted,” Andújar said in a note.
“It is always hard to say so, but nobody is indispensable. Espacio Laical will go on, with a new production team,” he added.
González declined to comment, citing his “love for the Church and obedience to the Cardinal-Archbishop,” Jaime Ortega.
Both editors of one of the few unofficial publications on the island had propitiated a broad debate among Cuban intellectuals, both on the island and abroad, for which they had received praise but also harsh attacks from anti-Castro sectors in exile.
Until last year, the monthly publication (digital and printed) was directed by Father Yosvany Carvajal, director of the Felix Varela Cultural Center of the Havana Archbishopric.
